472 



THE CANADIAN HGRTICULTURlS'l 



hardier varieties are Aurea and Argentea. 

 To make a complete and attractive planting, 

 as well as an economical and lasting result, 



the evergreen is just as essential as the per- 

 ennial or the deciduous class, and may be 

 truly said to be a joy forever. 



WATERING HOUSE PLANTS 



ALMOST everyone is anxious to have 

 some plants in the windows or on 

 centre tables, and very few homes can be 

 found without some geraniums, fuchsias, 

 begonias or other common plants. Palms, 

 ferns, rubber plants, etc., too, are becoming 

 common. Many plant lovers, however, 

 lose several fine specimens each season from 

 various causes. In many cases failure is 

 due to injudicious watering. Some enthu- 

 siasts are too lavish with water, while others 

 allow the plants to become too dry. 



The professional florists exercise great 

 :are in supplying their plants with water, 

 rhey have learned from experience how es- 

 sential to success judicious watering is. 

 While talking to a representative of The 

 Horticulturist recently Mr. Thos. Manton, 

 Df Eglinton, one of Ontario's best known 

 lorists, said : " There can be no fixed rule 

 aid down for watering plants. In dry, 



GREENS FOR 



C. B. 



THE same apparent cheer is never in the 

 household as strongly as at the 

 Christmas time, and any evidences that may 

 )e displayed along that line, in the way of 

 iecorations, are always welcome. Many 

 lew and novel decorations for table use and 

 vindow wreaths are looked for, and the fol- 

 owing may be of use or ofifer some timely 

 lints. 



Holly, mistletoe and evergreens enter 

 argely into the Christmas decorations, and 

 )f late years potted plants and cut flowers 

 IS well are fast becoming popular. The 

 em dish lends itself well for centerpiece 

 able decoration. Filled with sprigs of 

 lolly covered with the red berries, and 



warm weather they need twice as much as 

 when the air is cool. The best way to learn 

 whether water is required or not is to rap 

 on the side of the pot. If there is a hollow 

 sound the soil is too dry. A thorough 

 watering should be given or none at all. I 

 always add water until it begins to run out 

 at the bottom of the pot. If the pot sits in 

 a saucer or jardiniere all the water that 

 runs through should be thrown out. Stag- 

 nant water is very injurious to any plant. 

 It is well to put a handful of gravel in the 

 bottom of the jardiniere so that in case 

 some water does run through the flower pot 

 does not sit in it. 



" Great care must be exercised in the fall 

 when fires are first started, and again in the 

 spring when warm weather allows fires to 

 be dispensed with. After fires are started 

 much more water is needed. In the spring 

 the quantity can be decreased." 



CHRISTMAS 



M. 



placed on a round mirror, surrounded with 

 arbor-vitae or other Christmas green, it 

 makes a simple but efifective centerpiece 

 for the table. Any well formed, not too 

 tall fern, or palm, placed in a pot covered 

 with scarlet crepe paper, finished off with a. 

 band of red satin ribbon and smart bow, 

 makes a pleasing addition to any table. The 

 pot thus decorated may be placed on a 

 round mat of moss or bank of holly. 



Another pleasing variation is found in a 

 large, low, white basket, filled with red 

 roses, the handle of which is tied with a 

 large scarlet bow having a bright sprig of 

 holly thrust through its loops. Distribute 

 the roses among the guests after dinner. 



